The NUX Loop Core Stereo is NUX's next-generation looper pedal: a stereo unit with a built-in drum machine, 99 memory slots and MIDI control1. It records up to 6 hours of music phrases in 24-bit audio with 32-bit floating signal processing, and its 50 drum patterns make it a practice and songwriting tool as much as a performance looper123. When Premier Guitar's John Binger demoed it in January 2024, he called it "their next generation of a really popular Looper" and noted "that's a lot of functionality for a $129 street price"4.
The pedal is aimed squarely at players who want drums and looping in one box, and at stereo rigs: it has stereo inputs and outputs, so you can run a stereo effects chain into it and out to two amplifiers54.
What it is and what it does
The Loop Core Stereo is a yellow pedal with a built-in drum machine, stereo inputs and outputs, and MIDI5. You press the foot switch to record, play and dub loops, and hold it to undo, redo or clear; finished loops are saved in one of 99 memory slots1. Everything is accessed and edited through a high-definition color LCD display1.
The drum side is a big part of the appeal. The drum pattern button pulls up all 50 patterns, including a metronome and many rock styles, with time signature options of 4/4 or 3/44. Tempo can be set with the wheel, entered directly, or tapped in4. Recording can start in several ways: a four-bar count-in, automatic detection when the pedal senses you playing, or instantly when you hit the switch4. Stop behavior is configurable too, with options including fade out of the loop, one-shot playback, and immediate dubbing4.
Nearly every parameter can be controlled by an external MIDI controller, including tap tempo and stop, and NUX includes a MIDI-to-1/8" cable with the pedal1.
The controls
The control set is compact, with most editing done through the screen and the VALUE knob1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Foot switch | Press to record, play or dub loops; hold for undo, redo and clear15 |
| VALUE knob (rotate) | Select an empty memory slot from 01 to 99, or adjust parameters15 |
| VALUE knob (press) | Press once or twice to adjust the volume of the loop or the drums5 |
| Drum Style | Choose from the 50 built-in drum patterns4 |
| Tap / Tempo | Set tempo by tapping, with the wheel, or directly34 |
| Save / Delete | Manage stored phrases2 |
| Global Settings | Configure routing, recording start and stop behavior2 |
| Color LCD display | Access and edit everything on screen1 |
Guitar Pedal X's compact-looper buying guide lists the pedal's controls as Drum Style, Tap/Tempo, Save/Delete, Global Settings and Value/Volume2.
Routing and connections
The routing options are where the Stereo earns its name. NUX lists four example setups1:
- Mono in, mono out
- Stereo in, stereo out
- OUT A for guitar, OUT B for the drum machine
- Both OUT A and B to a mixer
The signal path settings include split to mix, split to in and out, and stereo in and out4. On the split-to-mix setting, one output carries just the drum loop while the other carries your instruments and loops, which is useful for sending drums to a PA and guitar to an amp4. When both outputs go to a mixer, the pedal provides an amp simulation that John Binger, demoing it for Premier Guitar, thought was "really solid"4.
For two-amp setups, Binger showed running stereo effects into the pedal and then into two different amplifiers, getting what he described as a huge stereo spread with the drums4.
"You can run stereo effects in and then run into two different amplifiers and get this huge stereo spread with your drums."
Pedal of the Day's reviewer made a similar point about the stereo I/O5:
"The stereo connectivity here with the Loop Core really adds another level of creativity to be explored, letting you run just about any kind of signal chain you want before this pedal."
Connection-wise, the pedal has mono and stereo inputs, mono, stereo and phones outputs, USB-C, and MIDI in13.
USB, WAV import and firmware
Connected to a computer, the pedal appears as a USB disk, and WAV files can be imported into its wave folders1. There is a format restriction to know about:
The Loop Core Stereo only supports 44.1kHz/32-bit stereo floating WAV format. NUX provides a NuxFormatConverter tool to convert files into that format before importing them1.
NUX also supports the pedal with firmware updates, with version V1.0.5 available for macOS and Windows, and user manuals in English, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish1.
How it compares to the Loop Core Deluxe
The Loop Core Stereo sits above the earlier Loop Core Deluxe in NUX's looper line. The Deluxe, announced in 2017, is a 24-bit looper with 8 hours of recording time, unlimited layers, 99 phrase memories and 40 drum rhythms (30 in 4/4 and 10 in 3/4) covering rock, pop, blues and jazz3. It is mono-in with stereo output jacks, runs on a 9V negative tip adapter or a 9V battery, and includes frequency compensation for the drums plus a cabinet simulator on its stereo outputs3.
| Loop Core Deluxe | Loop Core Stereo | |
|---|---|---|
| Inputs | Mono6 | Mono, Stereo1 |
| Signal processing | 24-bit31 | 32-bit1 |
| Recording time | Up to 8 hours314 | Up to 6 hours1 |
| Drum rhythms | 40 (30 in 4/4, 10 in 3/4)34 | 504 |
| Display | LED and LED segment displays31 | Color LCD1 |
| MIDI | Not listed | Yes, cable included1 |
| Power | 9V DC negative tip or 9V battery31 | 9V negative tip adapter, 110mA to 120mA1 |
The trade-off is recording time: the Deluxe's 8 hours beats the Stereo's 6, and the Deluxe also takes a battery. The Stereo counters with true stereo I/O, higher-resolution processing, more drum patterns, the color screen and MIDI control. The original Loop Core, now a legacy product, recorded 6 hours in 16-bit with a less developed drum machine3.
What reviewers said
Published coverage has been positive about the feature set for the price. Premier Guitar's demo highlighted the drum patterns, routing flexibility, recording modes, amp simulation and MIDI control, with Binger summing up the $129 street price as a lot of functionality4. Pedal of the Day's review emphasized the stereo connectivity and the creativity it opens up, letting you run just about any signal chain before the pedal5. Guitar Pedal X included it in a roundup of compact looper pedals, listing its 24-bit conversion, 44.1kHz sampling, 32-bit floating processing, 6 hours of stereo looping, 50 rhythm patterns, MIDI in and USB-C23.
In Premier Guitar's video, Binger walks through the drum patterns and metronome, the tempo options, the count-in and detection recording modes, the stop settings, the split routing, and the amp simulation on the mixer output4.
Videos
NUX
intheblues
Questions
How many drum patterns does the NUX Loop Core Stereo have?
It has 50 built-in drum patterns, which NUX describes as completing the looping experience. The drum pattern button pulls up the full list, including a metronome and a range of rock styles, and time signatures can be set to 4/4 or 3/4.
How long can the Loop Core Stereo record?
NUX says the Loop Core Stereo allows you to create up to 6 hours of music phrases, stored across 99 memory slots. That matches the original Loop Core's 6 hours, while the Loop Core Deluxe offers 8 hours of recording time.
Can you import your own WAV files to the Loop Core Stereo?
Yes. The pedal appears as a USB disk when connected to a computer, and WAV files can be imported into its wave folders. It only supports 44.1kHz/32-bit stereo floating WAV format, and NUX provides a NuxFormatConverter tool for converting files.
What power supply does the NUX Loop Core Stereo need?
It runs on a 9V negative tip power adapter, drawing 110mA to 120mA. Unlike the Loop Core Deluxe, which also takes a 9V battery, the Loop Core Stereo's specs list adapter power only, so it needs a spot on a pedalboard power supply.
Can the Loop Core Stereo run into two amps?
Yes. It has stereo inputs and outputs, and on Premier Guitar's demo John Binger showed running stereo effects into it and then into two different amplifiers for a wide stereo spread with the drums. A split routing mode can also send drums and instruments to separate outputs.
What is the difference between the Loop Core Deluxe and Loop Core Stereo?
The Loop Core Deluxe is mono-in with stereo output jacks, 24-bit processing, 40 drum rhythms and 8 hours of recording. The Loop Core Stereo is a next-generation pedal with stereo inputs and outputs, 32-bit signal processing, 50 drum patterns, 6 hours of storage, a color LCD display and MIDI control.
Sources (6)
- Loop Core Stereo, NUX Audio, 2025-08-05
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-01-08
- Loop Core Deluxe, NUX Audio, 2025-11-04
- NUX Loop Core Stereo Demo, Premier Guitar, 2024-01-17
- NUX Loop Core Stereo Looper with MIDI, Pedal of the Day, 2025-12-21
- Nux Announces 24-bit Looper Pedal, Loop Core Deluxe, Guitar World, 2017-07-17
